Juba, 10 January 2018 – Following a report of
suspected viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) outbreak in Thonabutkok
village, Yirol East County on 28 December 2017, a multi-sectoral
response in the context of one health was launched by the Ministry of
Health, WHO and other experts from the human and animal health for an
in-depth investigation to establish the cause of deaths in three people
as well as reported deaths and abortions in domestic animals and wild
birds.

The team followed up close contacts of the three deaths and monitored
them for any signs and symptoms of VHF. So far no close contacts on
follow-up have developed any symptoms. In addition blood samples were
drawn from humans and animals to analyse the possible causes of the
suspected VHF outbreak.

Thanks to the swift multi-sectoral response to this outbreak,
laboratory investigations have revealed that all the seven samples from
the humans have tested negative for VHF including Ebola, Marburg,
Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, Rift Valley Fever and Sosuga viruses,
says Dr Argata Guracha, the Officer in Charge for WHO South Sudan.

The Ministry of Health with support from WHO and partners continued
to investigate and monitor the situation at all levels, says Dr Guracha.
In light of the increasing risk of emerging and re-emerging disease
outbreaks and epidemics, WHO with funding from the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID), the European Civil Protection and
Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and the Government of Japan,
strengthened epidemic preparedness and response through building the
capacity of multidisciplinary experts drawn from line ministries and
partners to respond to such events, Dr Guracha emphasized.

To strengthen animal and public health surveillance, WHO supported
the deployment of an additional team from the National Ministry of
Health, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to coordinate, monitor and
supervise the response in Yirol East county. In addition, over 30
frontline health care workers were trained in case management and
infection prevention and control (IPC). WHO also prepositioned medical
supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to support the
response.

Besides, public awareness has been heightened to ensure that any
person who has fever and bleeding and two or more other symptoms such as
headache, vomiting and joint pains is immediately reported to the
health facilities. Any deaths of people who developed high fever and
bleeding should also be reported quickly to health authorities.

Haemorrhagic illness can be caused by a wide range of diseases –
including Rift Valley Fever, Crimean- Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue,
as well as Lassa fever and Marburg.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is caused by infection with a tick-borne virus(Nairovirus)in the familyBunyaviridae. The disease was first characterized in the Crimea in 1944 and given the name Crimean hemorrhagic fever. It was then later recognized in 1969 as the cause of illness in the Congo, thus resulting in the current name of the disease.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is found in Eastern Europe, particularly in the former Soviet Union, throughout the Mediterranean, in northwestern China, central Asia, southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.

Doctors ask government to explain status of congo-crimean fever outbreak

The doctor’s concerns follow earlier statements released by the permanent secretary in the ministry of health, Diana Atwine, refuting claims of the outbreak of the disease

The Uganda Medical Association has expressed concern over the manner in which the ministry of health is handling the possible outbreak of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, which they say is putting the lives of health workers and the community in jeopardy.

The association wants the ministry to declare this an epidemic until all investigations are carried out.

The doctor’s concerns follow earlier statements released by the permanent secretary in the ministry of health, Diana Atwine, refuting claims of the outbreak of the disease and later a statement from the State Minister for Health Sarah Opendi confirming a case of the deadly disease

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